Wow, talk about a wicked source of inspiration - and a source of wicked design-envy! I mean, any designer in their right mind would JUMP at the opportunity to design a gig poster or handbill, especially for a lesser known and/or indie band who are still wide-open artistically and up for just about anything. Imagine the limitless creativity!!! Imagine the spec-free wonderment of it all!!! GigPosters.com is a vastly interesting site showcasing fantastic illustration and thouroughly unadulterated design -- and WHO gives a #@*%! WHO the bands are or WHAT they sound like?! If they've got a wicked logo or way-cool colour scheme, that's all I need to know. They become automatic superstars in my eyes. And if you really, REALLY love the poster (and again, who cares WHO the bands are?!), then you can go ahead and snap that puppy up for your very own. Yay, GigPosters!

"In July 2000, Apple introduced a dramatic new case design for the Power Mac G4 Cube. Housed in an 8x8x8-inch cube, the G4 Cube combined the elegance of the iMac with the power of the Power Mac G4. The G4 Cube was a foray into the business market, as well as an answer to those who wanted an iMac-like machine, with more monitor choices. The Cube traded expandability for its diminutive size. There were no PCI slots, and while the graphics card fit into an 2x AGP slot, there wasn't room for full-length AGP cards. With the exception of PCI expansion, the Cube was as versatile as its larger G4 cousin: Three RAM slots, an AirPort slot, and two USB and FireWire ports. One gripe many people had with the Cube was its lack of conventional audio input and output. Instead, it came with an external USB amplifier and a set of Harman Kardon speakers. The amplifier had a standard mini-plug headphone output, but there was no microphone included, and having USB as the only sound-input option was considered limiting by many. Shortcomings aside, the Cube was a remarkable feat of engineering, crammed inside an elegant case. The Cube shipped to retail markets with a 450 MHz G4 processor, a 20 GB hard drive, a 56 kbps modem, 64 MB of RAM, and Apple s Pro Mouse, for $1,799. Another configuration was available through the Apple Store, with a 500 MHz G4, a 30 GB hard drive and 128 MB of RAM, for $2,299. Gigabit Ethernet was available as a BTO option. The Cube was not nearly the success that Apple had hoped it would be. The consensus was that Apple had misjudged the market, making the Cube an expensive luxury computer instead of a cheaper monitor-less iMac. In December the low-end configuration received a price cut to $1,499. In February 2001, the cube received a feature and price change. The low-end configuration was re-priced at $1,299. A "better" configuration was made available, with a CD-RW drive and 128 MB of RAM, for $1,599. Finally, the high-end version got a 60 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, a CD-RW drive and an 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card, and sold for $2,199. The Power Mac G4 Cube was never officially discontinued, but in July 2001 Apple suspended production of the Cube indefinitely. While leaving the door open for a possible reintroduction of the enclosure, Apple quickly and quietly let the world forget the disappointing failure of the G4 Cube." (photo credits: Apple Computer)

I still remember, like it was only yesterday, the moment I cracked open my first mac fresh from the Apple store. It was so thrilling and so positively overwhelming to finally be in possession of such a majestic machine. The gorgeous white & graphite box, the bubblewrap, the indescribable, delicious, new-computer smell. And years later, opening my G4 Powerbook, I experienced it all over again -- two-fold. I was completely heady with excitement, blood pounded in my ears and my hands trembled from having spent all that money I technically didn't have to spend but oh my god I so didn't even care in the slightest! I lifted it from it's black box, out from under the protective, "Designed by Apple in California" insert, inhaling deeply that same, sweet smell of untouched-by-human-hands-electronics. And now, thanks to a new, genius little blog called unboxing, I can live vicariously through other's purchases, sharing in the wonderment, joy, and the exhilarating anticipation of opening a life-altering gadget for the very first time. And it's not just macs, here, either. There are all kinds of gadgets to enjoy and unsheathe. And I even don't care if it's nerdy. I just so don't even care in the slightest.

"Announced in October 1999, the iMac DV was a major jump forward in Apple's consumer strategy. Along with all the new features added to the iMac (Slot Loading), the DV also included a DVD-ROM drive, a larger hard drive, two FireWire ports (a consumer first), and a VGA out. The iMac DV was convection cooled, and as a result needed no internal fan, making it the quietest Mac since the 512k. The base model iMac DV came in five candy colors, with 64 MB of RAM, a 10 GB ATA drive, for $1,299. A "special edition" was also available in Graphite, with 128 MB of RAM, and a 13 GB drive, for $1,499." (photo credits: Apple Computer)

...and while I'm on the "who just doesn't love?" tangent, who just doesn't love rabbits? I know you do! And so do illustrators worldwide, thank you! (who knew rabbits of all things could captivate so many?!) Go to "essence of rabbit" and click on the mandala. That's right. A mandala. Comprised entirely of rabbits! Scan around, and you'll see pink rabbits, blue rabbits, black rabbits... happy rabbits, sad rabbits, deranged rabbits... it's just all about the rabbit -- the very ESSENCE of rabbit, in fact!

Who doesn't love anything that plays off a take-out menu? I know I do! Juju's Delivery Service offers up hot & fresh illustrations (you know I like things simple), and the links secton offers up some pretty tasty little tidbits, too!

The little red owl and hastily drawn logo pulled me in immediately. The Portions For Foxes song made me want to linger. The too cool album covers, t-shirts and stickers were a happy bonus. I like how their videos are presented, too. So all in all, I recommend stumbling on Rilo Kiley!

"Announced in February 2000, The iBook SE was a speed-bumped iBook, with the graphite coloring of its The iMac DV SE and Power Mac G4 cousins. All other specs are the same as the iBook. It sold for $1799." (photo credits: Apple Computer)